Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattress: Choosing the Right Option for You

A new mattress is a wonderful investment in your sleep health. It’s also exciting because buying a new mattress can mean you’re moving home, redecorating, or embarking on some positive changes in your life. Making such an important purchase is not without its challenges as there is such a wealth of choice available. 

Choosing between a spring or foam mattress should be easy, right? Let’s talk about the differences between them and which one could offer you the most comfort. 

Memory Foam Mattress vs. Coil Spring Mattress: How They Differ

You might remember coil spring mattresses from childhood, those creaky and springy beds that you bounced on. Lower gauge coils in a spring mattress will offer firmer support while a higher gauge will produce a softer mattress and some are topped with memory foam. 

Memory foam is derived from polyurethane with additional viscoelastic chemicals that give it its density and memory capabilities

A memory foam mattress is made entirely out of foam and depending on the density, can range from super soft to firm. In the battle of foam vs spring mattress, they’re quite even, to begin with.

What Is a Memory Foam Mattress? 

Memory foam mattresses are as popular as ever, you’ll find them with a base layer of foam or springs and retains body heat quite well. As your body heat is stored in the memory foam the mattress molds to your body and typically creates your shape that it ‘remembers’. 

The bounce-back of the material tends to be slow and may not be as responsive as spring or more modern mattress materials. Memory foam is derived from polyurethane with additional viscoelastic chemicals that give it its density and memory capabilities.

Those sleeping with a partner on a memory foam mattress could experience low motion transfer and may not feel your partner’s movements during the night.

Those sleeping with a partner on a spring mattress could experience high motion transfer

What Is a Spring Mattress? 

A spring mattress may seem like an old fashioned choice but could still be reliable. This traditional mattress is made with many metal coils and depending on their gauge, can offer a soft or firm mattress.

The coils are typically topped with fabric or foam to give a bouncy mattress. Those sleeping with a partner on a spring mattress could experience high motion transfer as you may feel every movement your partner makes during the night.   

A memory foam mattress tends to sleep hot because it’s made with viscoelastic chemicals that retain and store body heat

Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattress: Which is Better? 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Foam Mattresses

A memory foam mattress tends to sleep hot because it’s made with viscoelastic chemicals that retain and store body heat.

Although memory foam could offer low motions transfer and a longer lifespan than spring mattresses, they may not provide much pressure relief due to the sinking nature of the material. Memory foam mattresses are widely available and often at reasonable prices.   

Memory Foam Advantages	Memory Foam Disadvantages
Distributes weight evenly	Sleeps hot
Could have a longer lifespan than spring	Contains viscoelastic chemicals
Low motion transfer	May not offer pressure relief
Some at reasonable prices	Could have a bad smell if made with low-quality foam
Widely available	May not be as durable as more modern mattress materials

Advantages and Disadvantages of Spring Mattresses 

A spring mattress could sleep hot if it’s topped with a layer of memory foam. 

The bouncy nature of the material may not be ideal for couples due to high motion transfer. As it doesn’t distribute body weight evenly it may not provide any pressure relief. Spring mattresses are widely available and can often be found at budget prices (but remember you get what you pay for).

Spring Advantages	Spring Disadvantages
May sleep cooler than foam	Uneven weight distribution
Can be found at budget prices	Contains viscoelastic chemicals if topped with foam
Widely available	Could have a lesser lifespan than memory foam
	May not offer pressure relief
	High motion transfer
	Spring pushback could be uncomfortable for some
	May not be as durable as more modern mattress materials

 As a side sleeper, it’s vital to sleep on a mattress that provides as much pressure relief as possible.

Memory Foam vs. Spring Coil: Which Is Less Toxic?

The viscoelastic chemicals in memory foam and spring mattresses topped with memory foam, may sleep hot but are not harmful to sleep on. However, some lower quality memory foam could contain formaldehyde, naphthalene, and benzene. If the memory foam contains isocyanates, it may cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation. 

It’s always recommendable to only choose memory foam mattresses certified with CertiPUR-US as this certification guarantee that the foam is made without nasty chemicals such as formaldehyde, heavy metals, ozone depleters, and so forth. 

Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattress for Side Sleepers

As a side sleeper, it’s vital to sleep on a mattress that provides as much pressure relief as possible. Memory foam mattresses may seem like the best choice for side sleepers as they can be softer than spring mattresses. 

Unfortunately, memory foam may not be ideal for side sleepers due to the sinking nature of the foam. Spring mattresses may be too firm for side sleepers as too much pressure is put on the sensitive hip and shoulder areas. The opposite effect takes place on a memory foam mattress where the hips and shoulders tend to sink too much into the foam. 

Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattress for Back and Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers may find more comfort on a firm spring mattress as opposed to a soft memory foam mattress. If the memory foam is too soft, the hips could sink into the foam and this puts pressure on the lower back. 

A firm spring mattress may provide a little more spine alignment than memory foam. Although it is possible to find a firm memory foam mattress, there could be some hip sinkage for stomach sleepers.   

There are many variables to consider when choosing a mattress that could offer relief from pain

Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattress for Hip and Shoulder Pain

Living with hip and shoulder pain is certainly no fun and a good night’s sleep is vital for recovery and pain management. When choosing a spring or foam mattress for comfort from pain, it’s best to opt for a mattress that provides superior pressure relief. 

A memory foam mattress could be too soft and offer little of the targeted support that hip and shoulder pain requires. A spring mattress might be too firm and put undue pressure on the delicate hip and shoulder areas as the springs push up against your body.

 There are many variables to consider when choosing a mattress that could offer relief from pain. Depending on your sleep position, foam vs spring mattress has advantages and disadvantages. Although, choosing a mattress that provides supreme pressure relief could be more beneficial for your pain management needs. 

Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattress for Hot Sleepers

Memory foam mattresses typically sleep hot due to the nature of the foam and the viscoelastic chemicals it contains. Hot sleepers may find a little more climate comfort in a spring mattress that is not topped with memory foam. 

A spring mattress could be more cooling than memory foam because air has a better chance to circulate between the springs. Memory foam is dense therefore air circulation is almost nonexistent.  

opt for a mattress that offers more pressure relief than memory foam

Are Memory Foam Mattresses Bad for Your Back? 

Memory foam mattresses tend to be quite firm and may not offer adequate spinal alignment, which could cause back pain or irritate pain further. When managing back pain, opt for a mattress that offers more pressure relief than memory foam. 

Do Spring or Foam Mattresses Last Longer?

Foam vs spring mattress durability will come down to the materials used. There are low and high-quality memory foam and spring mattresses on the market but it can be tricky to determine the lifespan. The quality of the memory foam, springs, and fabric could indicate the mattress’s lifespan. 

If you’re still unsure about which mattress is best for your needs. Find an online mattress retailer who offers at least 100-nights in-home trial

This is not to be confused with cost, it is possible to find a high-quality mattress that is affordable. Just because a mattress costs $3,000+ doesn’t necessarily mean it’s comfortable with a long lifespan. Although mattress lifespan is important to consider, the comfortability of your new mattress is one of the most important things to consider. Choosing a mattress that offers superior pressure relief, is cooling, comfortable could come with a naturally durable element without costing too much. 

If you’re still unsure about which mattress is best for your needs. Find an online mattress retailer who offers at least 100-nights in-home trial. Buying a new mattress from an online retailer can save you thousands of dollars, is more convenient than traveling to a store, and a trial with free delivery ensures your mattress retailer is confident in the quality of its products. 

Conclusion 

There are advantages and disadvantages to both memory foam and spring mattresses. Such as;

Memory Foam Mattresses

• Distributes weight evenly but sleeps hot
• Could have a longer lifespan than a spring mattress but contains viscoelastic chemicals 
• Low motion transfer but may not offer pressure relief 
• Some at reasonable prices but could have a bad smell if made with low-quality foam
• Widely available but may not be as durable as more modern mattress materials 

Spring Mattresses 

• May sleep cooler than memory foam but could offer uneven weight distribution
• Can be found at budget prices but contains viscoelastic chemicals if topped with foam
• Widely available but could have a lesser lifespan than memory foam
• May not offer pressure relief 
• High motion transfer (will feel every movement from partner or pet in the bed) 
• Spring pushback could be uncomfortable for some
• May not be as durable as more modern mattress materials

If you think neither a memory foam or spring mattress is ideal for you. Consider a free trial of an AirFoam™ mattress. As it’s made without heat-trapping chemicals and free from memory foam, AirFoam™ mattresses sleep cool, offer optimal pressure relief and are proven 300% more durable than memory foam.

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